Bomb blast at intelligence office kills 15 in Karachi
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Nov 12, IRNA -- A huge bomb attack on a Pakistani intelligence office in the port city of Karachi killed at least 15 people and injured nearly 80 others, TV channels reported.
Building of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) was completely destroyed in the attack in the highly guarded area of Karachi.
Zulfikar Mirza, Home Minister of southern Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital, said that an explosive-packed vehicle hit the intelligence office.
Mirza compared the attack with the suicide attack on the Marriot Hotel in Islamabad which killed 54 people and injured over 250 in September 2008.
Witnesses said that they heard firing at the CID office minutes before the bomb attack.
The minister said that there had also been cross firing before the attack.
Local TV channels reported that detained members of the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi were kept in the CID center for questioning.
Sources said that most of the policemen were among those killed and injured.
Several women and children, living in the nearby houses, were also injured.
Police sources said that several CID employees buried under the rubbles of the building.
Ambulances rushed to the site and are shifting the injured to the hospitals.
Witnesses said they heard firing minutes before the attack.
Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and warned more attacks, local TV channels reported.
TV channels showed several injured people, including children, fleeing site of the blast.
Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, one of the deadliest in recent months.
Geo television reported that Taliban threatened more attacks.
Police and paramilitary force picked up several people after the blast.
**1420
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30070173
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